Media Releases

The peak body for the Victorian timber and forestry industry is concerned at the recent lack of government support for local harvesting contractors. “Protesters who invaded harvesting operations in a Rubicon Valley timber harvest site last week ignored Public Safety Zone legislation, putting lives at risk,” said Victorian Association of Read more…

The Victorian Association of Forest Industries Inc. (VAFI) is devastated by the State Government’s decision to shut down the Victorian native timber industry by 2030. “It’s clear the government has bowed to pressure from vocal environmental groups and turned its back on listening to those within the industry and those Read more…

If news of the recent announcement by the State Government to phase out the Victorian native timber industry wasn’t already pushing workers towards emotional breaking point, activists have yet again targeted a forest contractor in a coupe, the second time in two months. The Victorian Association of Forest Industries Inc. Read more…

The Victorian Association of Forest Industries Inc. (VAFI) calls for immediate action from the State Government after a protest in a timber harvesting coupe in Kinglake has again stopped forest contractors from making a living. VAFI CEO, Tim Johnston, said the Government has the regulatory power to remove protesters from Read more…

The Victorian Association of Forest Industries Inc. (VAFI) is deeply troubled by a report of alleged market research, believed to be partly funded by the State Government, which sought feedback from Victorians on the closure of the Victorian native timber industry by 2022. VAFI CEO, Tim Johnston, said the line Read more…

Victoria’s plantation forestry sector injects more than $600 million into the state’s economy each year, a figure the Victorian Association of Forest Industries Inc. (VAFI) says must be taken seriously by the State and Federal governments. VAFI CEO, Tim Johnston, said in 2017-18 Victoria continued to have the largest total Read more…

The Victorian native timber industry will be extremely disappointed if the State Government accepts the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council’s (VEAC) recommendations to create an extensive suite of new national parks in Victoria’s west. The Victorian Association of Forest Industries Inc. (VAFI) CEO, Tim Johnston said that the proposals to create Read more…

The Victorian Association of Forest Industries Inc. (VAFI) has called for immediate action from the State Government after 11 days of protest action in a timber harvesting coupe in Mount Baw Baw, which has seen the livelihood of a small business owner suffer substantial financial loss in income to date. Read more…

With the State Government moving back into the plantation sector it exited more than 20 years ago, forest industry experts are urging the government to consider utilising the experience and expertise of the private sector. The government recently announced it would plant 550 hectares of blue gum trees on crown Read more…

Following last week’s State Government announcement of the long-awaited Timber Release Plan (TRP), the Victorian Association of Forest Industries Inc. (VAFI) is calling on the Agriculture Minister, the Hon Jaclyn Symes MP, to be clear on the long-term future of the Victorian native forest sector. “The Victorian timber and forest Read more…